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Published on: October 6, 2022
Lignin-derived red carbon dots sensitized TiO2 photocatalysts for tetracycline degradation
Wenbo Cui1, Peng Wu2, Bang An3
1Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Engineering Research Center of Advanced Wooden Materials, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; School of Future Technology, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
Abstract:
To extend the photo-response range and quantum efficiency of titanium dioxide (TiO2), it was sensitized with lignin-derived red-emitting carbon dots (RCDs). The RCDs consisted of a base lignin structure and many types of functional groups (e.g., CO, -NH2, -OSO3H, -NR2, and -OH). The optimal emission wavelength of the RCDs was 628 nm, with a fluorescence lifetime of 8.56 ns. The TiO2 photocatalyst particles were sensitized by RCDs, which narrowed the band gap of TiO2 and increased the efficiency of carrier photogeneration. The RCDs/TiO2 possessed a double band-gap structure with the band-gap energies of 1.60 and 3.13 eV. The photocurrent response of RCDs/TiO2 under simulated solar irradiation were 1.2 to 4.5 μA·cm-2. The sensitization of TiO2 by RCDs facilitated the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. Under simulated sunlight, the degradation of tetracycline by RCDs/TiO2 reached 95.0 % and the mineralization ratio was 57.5 % within 60 min.
